CVE-2012-5548 in Time Spent
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Time Spent module 6.x and 7.x for Drupal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2018
The CVE-2012-5548 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Time Spent module for Drupal versions 6.x and 7.x, fundamentally compromising web application security. This vulnerability resides in the module's handling of user input within the time tracking functionality, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content. The flaw manifests when the module processes time entries or related data without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to execute malicious code in the context of affected websites. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of input validation and output encoding, which are fundamental security controls in web application development.
The technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors within the Time Spent module's data processing mechanisms. Attackers can manipulate time tracking entries, comments, or other user-generated content fields to inject malicious scripts that execute when other users view the affected data. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. The flaw operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the module's user interface rendering and data persistence functions, making it particularly dangerous for collaborative environments where multiple users interact with time tracking features.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5548 is severe for organizations relying on Drupal-based time tracking systems, as it provides attackers with persistent access to user sessions and sensitive time data. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized access to employee time records, payroll information, and potentially broader system credentials if the affected Drupal installation lacks proper security hardening. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers need no local system access, making it particularly dangerous for web applications with public-facing time tracking interfaces. This flaw aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should prevent untrusted data from being directly rendered in web contexts.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including applying the official Drupal security patch released for the Time Spent module, implementing proper input sanitization, and configuring Content Security Policy headers to prevent script execution. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious time tracking entries can provide additional layers of defense. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of module security auditing in content management systems, as third-party modules often introduce unpatched security flaws. This case study aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers spearphishing with a malicious attachment or link, as attackers could exploit this vulnerability through crafted time tracking entries to deliver malicious payloads. Regular security assessments and patch management processes are essential to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other Drupal modules and ensure comprehensive protection against persistent web application threats.